JACKSON, MI – Two FirstMerit bank branches in Jackson will close Friday, June 6, as part of a plan to consolidate 26 branches in five states.

The branches at 1712 E. Michigan Ave. and 2030 Fourth St. will close at the end of the day Friday. Customers who use those branches will be rerouted to the North Street Branch, 1111 North Street, and the W. Morrell St. branch, 1514 W. Morrell St. The bank also has locations in Vandercook Lake, 4515 Francis St., and in downtown Jackson, One Jackson Square, 100 E. Michigan Ave.

Notification letters were sent to customers in February, according to Rob Townsend, media relations officer for First Merit.

"We are not leaving Jackson or exiting any markets," Townsend said.

The closures were based on several factors, including traffic patterns, cost of operation and customer channel trends -- which Townsend described as "other ways of access" including online, mobile banking, smart phone and call center.

The employees who work at the Jackson branches that are closing will transfer to the other branches.

"There will be no job loss, that is our goal when we make modifications," Townsend said.

Jackson resident Daniel Kuras said he received a call last week from an employee at 1712 E. Michigan Ave. location asking him to come in and empty his security deposit box. He has banked at this location for 10 years.

Although he does most of his banking online, he worries about older customers who physically use the bank.

The branches that customers are rerouted to are about 2 miles away from the respective branch that is closing, Townsend said.